alexedit

My Feedback: (2)

I have a tower hobbies .46 - the only thing is that the shaft, where the propeller screw goes, is stripped.
so, two questions, where can I buy this part? and is this reparable?

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

You buy it at tower and yes they can be replaced. How did you manage to stripe a prop shaft they are pretty tough?

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJB05&P=Z

alexedit

My Feedback: (2)

I bought the motor like that. It's almost used and I got a really good deal.

HighPlains

My Feedback: (1)

Is that like almost pregnant, almost used? Perhaps they read the posts on the RCU beginners forum that insist on using large wrenches to tighten down the prop, instead of merely learning how to start an engine without throwing the prop.

hudmun

[sm=71_71.gif]I wounder if you could re tap it or tap diff threads on thier, you know what i mean?

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

There's going to be experience gained in changing out the crank?

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

Alex this is not a good deal unless it was free even then it is going to be frustrating. First I would suggest to any new folks this is a terrible way get a deal. Its true what wy8e speculated that it will be a good learning process for you and it will involve some learning however it also going to be frustrating unless you get some first hand help in the process not just reading about it in a forum, suggest you find the engine guru in your club.

If the threads are so bad that a nut will not tighten at all just turn then no a thread chaser is not going to do anything. Forget the suggestion above about cutting a smaller size, first off you tap a hole not a bolt thread and that involves using a die, not a tap sometimes called a thread chaser. And second a crank is hardened hi test steel you are not going to just just cut it smaller, no way.

If the damage is very-very minor then using a 1/4-28 die chaser may help but you could not do this assembled anyway with no good way to hold the crank in the case without damage.

Your crank will almost certainly need to be replaced and I recommend you get hands on help with the process. To others folks who are new deliberately buying a damaged engine is almost certainly going to be expensive in terms of frustration and/or money and precisely the reason I always suggest used engines and radio systems is very unwise for new folks. Used airplanes: sure but not the stuff that counts.

Just one persons opinion here

John

alexedit

My Feedback: (2)

well, the engine was close to free and it came with servos and an airplane...oh and a receiver. I think the experience I will get out of changing this part will be pretty cool. Plus is not like it's the only engine I have. I will do it when I get around it. I have 4 other planes that I am enjoying right now. When I start experimenting with flying wings and who knows what else I will try, then I might get around to it. One thing is for sure, it might be hard to do, but it will be worth it, and I am not talking about money.

thanks for the help everyone.

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

OK great Alex just getting a feel for where your head is at and it is not hard to do but can be frustrating especially without hands on help or if this is your first engine and it is needed to fly now.

John

alexedit

My Feedback: (2)

cool - so is there a link where I can get tips from?
do I just take the piston out and pull the rod out?

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

There are a bunch of how to books on engines. The two stroke glow engine is almost a no brainer and nothing in there to do a lot of hard thinking about. One of my LHS has several books on them. You can find how to books in the tower catalog and sometimes in mags like MAN. To hold a piston in place you can buy one of those cool little piston holders that thread into the plug hole or make your own from an old glow plug and piece of brass rod. A very simple way is to slip in some nylon thread into the glow plug hole and fill the combustion area up then just rotate the crank. Getting an instruction book on engine repair is the best idea though so you aren't going in blind. Going into that engine is a good way to learn something but I always ask myself if an engine is worth the time and money to fix?? If it is to you then by all means go for it.

alexedit

My Feedback: (2)

engines are so cheap that it's not worth to put money into. But I just really want to learn how to do this.

brett65

My Feedback: (18)

Almost used?! LOL

Here are a couple of pretty useful vids that I had put in my favorites a long time ago. I thought they might eventually be useful. The guy is changing bearings, but he pulls the crank to do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuzEco3EDUM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLSoX...eature=related

-pkh-

My Feedback: (2)

Depending on the condition of the bearings, you might consider replacing those while you have it torn down.

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJB03&P=Z]Rear Bearing[/link]
[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJB02&P=Z]Front Bearing[/link]

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

The bearings are cheaper here

http://rc-bearings.com/catalog/index.php

-pkh-

My Feedback: (2)

That depends on what they charge for shipping & handling. Tower ships their engine parts for free (at least that's what's still claimed in their engine description).

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJA86&P=ML]Tower .46 Engine Listing[/link]

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

We have a local bering house just down the street and its nice you can go with the old one and you can put a caliper on the new one before even buying. This is a small town, there are bering houses all over the place you may want to try checking for one in your town first.

John